Montana State commit and North Kitsap High School lineman Nate Thornton was voted the 2A Olympic League 2024 Most Valuable Player, the sixth- consecutive year a Viking has earned the league’s highest honor.
Thornton’s presence and work ethic was felt on both sides of the football field, adding leadership to a young offense while heading a defense that allowed just 12.5 points per game against league foes. The Vikings, left more depleted from graduations than years past, started 0-3 before winning five of their last six to make the Round of 32 and finish as co-league champs alongside Bainbridge and Olympic.
NK had 13 honored followed by Olympic with 11 and BI 10.
Viking running back Carter Dungy, wide receiver and defensive back Lelond Anderson, offensive lineman James Rebman, defensive lineman James Rebman, linebacker Connor Nauta, kicker Andrew Knott and long snapper Ethan Blue were awarded first-team honors. Tight end Tate Stearns, offensive lineman Connor Nauta, linebackers Lincoln Gould and River Morris and defensive back Townsend Walsh made the second team.
The other two co-champions also had players who received the highest league honors.
Linebacker Spartan Garrett Goade earned Defensive Player of the Year, recording an average of eight tackles per game—18 of his 79 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. He also forced three fumbles, recovered two and had an interception to help lead his team to state for the first time since 2001.
Bainbridge’s first-teamers included quarterback Jack Grant, wide receivers Isaiah Beyer and Luca Scheltens, offensive lineman Matthew Grant, defensive lineman Joseph Caron, linebacker Adrian Ayling and defensive back Paxton Malloy. Running back Goade, offensive lineman Nic Wirz and defensive lineman Wyndham Kochenash earned second-team honors.
Olympic’s dynamic running game provided two pick-and-choose candidates for Offensive Player of the Year. Ultimately, it was the younger of the two, junior Chace Webster, who was selected. Webster led the Trojans in carries and yards on the ground despite missing the better part of two weeks due to an injury. Alongside senior running back Riley McCoy, the pair accounted for over 2,000 yards of offense with over 1,000 to each’s credit and 27 rushing scores to lead the Trojans back to state for the second time in three seasons.
Olympic’s list of first-team honorees included McCoy at running back, wide receiver Donovan Weaver, offensive linemen DeQuan Freeland and Sawyer Williams, defensive lineman Kevin Hudson, linebacker Micah Kazas and defensive back Gavin Wells. Quarterback Antonio Castorena earned second-team honors, as did offensive lineman Reeve Salisbury and defensive back Tommy Swain.
The first-team honorees for Bremerton, which had a brief postseason showing in the Round of 32, included running back Kenny Najera, tight end Eli Harris, defensive lineman Maurice Allen, linebacker Taison Penitusi and defensive back and punter Dillon McKay. Second-team honors were awarded to defensive lineman Rylo Retome, linebacker Braden Grimm and defensive back Tremain Abuan.
Elsewhere in Kitsap County, Klahowya senior Carson Moore was declared the 1A Nisqually League MVP. The Eagles’ quarterback accounted for over 1,000 yards of combined offense and 11 scores to help his team earn a surprise bid to the Round of 24.
Eagle players taking home first-team honors were offensive lineman Drew Franklin and linebacker Carson Moore. Running back, defensive back and return specialist Nate West, offensive linemen Maryon Stewart and Brayden Tobin, defensive linemen RJ Cottingham and linebacker Zack Pentz.
Winning second-team honors for Kingston, which just completed its first season playing out of the Nisqually League, were senior wide receiver/defensive back Kyler Hedstrom, offensive lineman Jack Grady, linebacker Nick Whitbeck and punter Chayton Walker.
